Someday I hope to visit Australia, if not stay for a few years.
Your part of Sydney looks pretty green to what I have been used to here in the desert southwest of the U.S. and the northern west part of Mexico and the Sonoran desert.
I see what you mean. Parts of outback Australia are similar in landscape, quite arid and dry. However, around the coastline, where about 95% of Australians live there are certainly some very good spots and most parts have fairly good, consistant weather.
Unfortunately now would not be a great time to visit Australia coming from the US, given the high exchange rate which is not in your favor. A few years ago our dollar was half the value of yours but now ours is worth slightly more. On the other hand, for us, visiting the US and buying out of the US has never been cheaper. This is one of the reasons I bought my Mustang. And I am not alone, there are literally thousands of old classics, vintage and muscle cars being imported here from the US every year. And in most states of Australia, if the car is over 30 years old, you dont need to convert the steering to right hand drive. So it is all too easy to do exactly what I did...except the wait!
So if you do come in the future, you wont have to look too hard to feel at home, there is plenty of US muscle around!